Artist in Residence 2015

We are delighted and excited to welcome photographer Toby Smithas our Leverhulme Trust Artist in Residence from October 2015.

Toby’s role will bring a new creative emphasis to our work,

and at the same time seek out new inter-disciplinary research paths

to tackle important biodiversity conservation challenges in a

fresh and original way.

Festival of Ideas

As part of the launch, Toby will present an exhibition, Light After Dark, at the Divinity School, St Johns College from Monday 19th October to Sunday 1st November.

During his residency, Toby will be leading a series of image and video workshops, which will utilise, develop, curate and publish on behalf of researchers linked to UCCRI and its CCI partners, as well as research and develop his own photographic work in collaboration with students, staff and wider conservation communities within the University and beyond.

Conservation is a strikingly visual science, with many researchers and practitioners personally motivated as much by the aesthetics of nature as by their need to understand the biophysical and social dynamics that drive changes in natural ecosystems. These images have considerable potential to feature more strongly in research outputs and indeed communication beyond normal channels. Toby’s photographic work brings a graphic interpretation and strength to global issues that pure science is often not able to achieve. His work has already naturally engaged with, and informed, a wide range of environmental and conservation debates, and has been especially successful because it has originated from an innovative perspective, moving between still images, video and online publishing.

Toby works with Getty Images Reportage and his photography and video projects are frequently published by the world’s leading editorial titles and exhibited internationally.

(All Images: Toby Smith)

“Photography has a unique ability to transcend language and hard science by being illustrative or figurative but without losing its connection to documentary fact. Good multimedia can reach across different audiences and can be disseminated in print, online, through social media and as public exhibitions. I’m extremely excited to be working with UCCRI and having the opportunity to engage with and support the research they are involved in. This grant catalyses my time to work on and access subjects I am passionate about and do so with academic rigor.”

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